I’m standing at the open door. 18,000 feet above ground. Feeling only sky and roaring wind.

The guide is attached to my back. He counts 3, 2, 1, push – we are hurtling through space. We are sailing through open sky.

Breathless, forcing myself to take long slow breaths. Eyes desperately wanting to shut, and forcing them to remain open. Feeling the power rush through every cell in my body and simultaneously the cells are screaming, ‘this is not safe!’

I remain conscious of the clouds, blue sky, and horizon all around. I sense the beating of my heart and the rush of blood and fluids through me. I stretch my arms wide and fly. This is amazing!

An entire lifetime passes by in only 2 minutes.

The guide pulls the ripcord. We peacefully float to earth.

With euphoria coursing through my veins, I rest on the grass for hours with a big blissful smile on my face.

It was my 57th birthday and my son decided I needed to skydive. He’d been jumping out of airplanes for several years. The exhilaration of hurtling through space was a total life changing experience for him. And he wanted me to experience it, too.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing” –Helen Keller

Life can feel like an adventure or an habitual water treading, excruciating auto pilot sentence in the doldrums. Your choice.

Moving from auto pilot to presence can be as dramatic as jumping out of an airplane – or as simple as choosing to experience this moment, fully.

Sometimes the challenge to do something new and scary, with all its accompanying fear is difficult. Yet, when we pause, and meet the pain (or even the pleasure) suppressed power arises. The pain and power dance together. Just like the mix of fear, euphoria, and exhilaration when skydiving.

Give it a try, next time you find yourself on auto pilot (bored, depressed, overwhelmed, numbed out); pause, meet your pain and your power. Let them dance together.

Embodied Living Soul Gatherings are an empowering way to move from auto pilot to presence. We meet weekly and practice the art of moving into presence.

Want to find out more? Let’s chat!

We meet Tuesday evenings from 6-7:30pm CST (Central US time) and beginning mid February 8–9:30pm CET (Central European time). Join us!

With appreciation!

—Melissa